I'd be really tempted to include Starc anyway but I agree with Jack; picking bowlers for footmark reasons just makes a relatively simple task overly complicated.

The impression I've got from what I've read is that the bowlers will be rotated around anyway. Which of the quicks happen to play in each match will have as much to do with workload management and fitness as it will with any sort of pecking order, so I guess it's lucky that we actually have five or six quality options. If there was a bigger gap between our best three quicks and the next lot, resting Pattinson from a couple of Tests and having someone like McKay in his stead really wouldn't have gone down well with me at all.

Watson, Warner, Hussey, Clarke, Hilfenhaus, Starc could all do with the state game leading up to the Test match.

The A team will still be competitive.

It seems to be pretty common practice to have all six state sides playing during the A match. Its happened for the last couple years. Basically allows the selectors to have a look at as many players as possible.

Only issue they always end resting the Test players, which defeats the purpose. I remember one season NSW had 3 guys in the A side and then 4 guys rested from the Test side.

Last edited by chaminda_00; 14-10-2012 at 11:08 PM.

The man, the mountain, the Mathews. The greatest all rounder since Keith Miller. (Y)

If Hilditch was around Xavier Doherty would be in the first Test due to his good spell against South Africa in the T20 World Cup. Thank **** he's no longer.

Pattinson must play, it annoys me a bit that the media are grouping the bowlers into young vs experienced. For me Pattinson is pretty much a finished product while Cummins has a fair few question marks despite an unbelievable Test debut.

It would be absolute madness if some of the Australian batsman in particular don't play for their states. NSW are playing QLD in Brisbane (where the first Test is being played) so you would think it would be an ideal opportunity for Watson and Warner in particular to get some practice with the red ball against a pretty decent QLD attack.

It would be absolute madness if some of the Australian batsman in particular don't play for their states. NSW are playing QLD in Brisbane (where the first Test is being played) so you would think it would be an ideal opportunity for Watson and Warner in particular to get some practice with the red ball against a pretty decent QLD attack.

Considering Clarke being rested for this match due to his hectic schedule of grade cricket and two FC games this season. I would be surprised if others aren't also rested.

Madness yes, that seems to be the policy of CA. If aren't playing they can't get injured.

This tactic has worked brilliantly for Sri Lanka with Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga. This tactic turned them into the Test workhorses they are today.

Can't remember they last time either of those two players played FC cricket before an International series. This was before Malinga's Test retirement BTW.